Electromagnetic device for relays and like apparatus



.March 20, 1962 J. CHERONNET ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE FOR RELAYS AND LIKE APPARATUS Filed Oct. '7, 1958 l'la b 111,

United rate Filed Oct. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 765,825 Claims priority, application France Oct. 31, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-103) The invention relates to an electromagnetic device of the type comprising a coil, a fixed magnetic circuit and at least one movable armature actuating a contact or COD-x tacts which are movable and for example co-operate with fixed contacts, these contacts being arranged and co-acting in any suitable manner so as to constitute a relay or the like. The invention also relates to a relay or the like incorporating said electromagnetic circuit.

The object of the invention is to' provide a device of this type in which the position of the armature or armatures, and in consequence that of the movable contacts connected to these armatures, is non-responsive to the action of any system of forces which may be reduced to a resultant (except a system producing a torque), which action most frequently results from forces of inertia due to accelerations of movements of translation in a single direction or alternating directions which are imparted to these devices by shaking or vibrations.

The device of the invention comprises two armatures which are symmetrically disposed relative to an axial plane of symmetry of the device, said two armatures being interconnected in such manner as to be capable of effecting relative to one another only simultaneous movements which are symmetrical relative to said plane of symmetry.

Further features of the invention are the following:

(a) Said connection between the armatures is obtained by means of a lever having a symmetrical shape and two arms which pivot about the axis of symmetry of the lever which axis coincides with the axis of symmetry of the device, the two armatures being operatively connected respectively to the end of each of said arms.

(b) The connection between each armature and the corresponding arm is obtained through the medium of a bar or driver, the two drivers being parallel and guided so as to move in longitudinal translation under the effect of two equal and opposite forces applied by the armatures in opposition to resiliently yieldable return means, said drivers being unitary with the movable contacts.

(c) Each of the armatures is pivotally mounted at one end and each of said drivers is pivoted at one end to the free end of one of said armatures, and is pivoted at an intermediate point to one of the arms of the pivoted levers and is furthermore guided on a fixed element by its other end.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, to which the invention is in no way restricted.

In the drawing:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are elevational views of at 90 to one another of the electromagnetic device according to the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a corresponding plan view of the device.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures,

tes aten the electromagnetic device comprises a coil 1 having a winding 2 and two insulating flanges 3, 3, and a fixed magnetic circuit comprising a core 4 connecting two magnetic cheeks that is, an outer cheek 5 and an inner cheek 6.

Gripped between the outer cheek 5 and the flange 3 is a plate 7 comprising two pairs 8a, 8b of bent tabs which ice perform the function of bearings for pivoting armatures 9a and 9b constituted by parallel plates which are symmetrically disposed relative to the median plane of the circuit. Each of these armatures is provided with notches or apertures 10a, 10a or 10b, 10b and the lugs 11a, 11a, or 11b, 11b thus formed are inserted in the tabs 8a, 8b and trapped therein by a plate 12 fixed to the outer end of the core 4 in such manner that the armatures 9a, 9b are freely pivotable.

The free end of each armature is located at a short distance from the lateral edges of the inner cheek 6, thus consituting air-gaps 13a, 13b. Each of the armatures is extended by a projection 14a having an opening 15a or 15b in which is hooked by one of its ends 16a, 16b a movable insulating bar 17a, 1712 or driver whose other end 18a, ISb is freely slidable in an opening 19a, 19b formed in a fixed fork 20. This fork 20 is constituted by a blanked and pressed out non-magnetic metal plate and comprises a median portion 21, fixed to the cheek 6 by soldering or other means, and two lateral feet 22a, 22b which have the apertures 19a, 19b as mentioned hereinbefore.

The two drivers are parallel (FIG. 1) and slide substantially in longitudinal translation.

Each driver is provided in its middle part with a lug 23a, 23b which is adapted to drive a rotatable connecting member 24 having the general shape of a plate having two arms 24a, 24b which are symmetrically disposed relative to a centre 25 (see FIG. 3) and having at its centre a circular aperture 26 by means of which this plate is rotatably mounted on a fixed pivot 27 which is fixed on a fixed part of the device, for example on the fork 20, on the geometric axis of the coil. The two arms of the rotatable plate are provided with notches or apertures 28a, 28b in which are disposed the lugs 23a, 23b of the drivers. Each of these arms carries a hooking tab 29a, 29b in which is hooked a return spring 30a, 30b whose other end is fixed at a fixed point 31a, 31b for example a hook cut out from the middle part of the fork 20.

Each driver 17a, 17b carries one or several strips such as 32a, 330 which carry contacts 34a, 35a capable of cooperating with fixed contacts, such as contacts 36a, 37a, 38a, 39a carried by pins or terminals, such as terminals 40a, fixed in a base 41 which could have insulating properties, or could include certain insulating parts supporting said pins.

The device operates in the following manner:

The return springs 30a, 30b ordinarily exert on the connecting member 24 a torque tending to turn this member in a counterclockwise direction (arrow f in FIGS. 3). The drivers are urged in the directions of arrows f and f (FIG. 3). In FIG. 2 the driver 17a is urged in the di rection of arrow f.,.

The moving studs or contacts occupy a position in which they co-operate with fixed studs or contacts, for example the studs 34a co-operate with studs 37a. When the coil is excited, the armatures 9a, 9b are attracted at 13a, 13b and pivot about their pivots at 8a, 8b and their projections 14a, 14b move in the direction of arrows f and f and shift the drivers in directions which are parallel but opposite and in consequence turn the member 24.

The moving studs are thus moved and, depending on the arrangement of the contacts, could either simply break contact with the fixed studs or come into contact with other fixed studs. For example, the studs 34a, leave the fixed studs 37a and come into contact with fixed studs 36a. 7

If an acceleration is imparted to the device in a direction parallel with the sides of the armatures, it is obviously without effect, but it Will be understood, moreover, that even if an acceleration is imparted to the device in a direction perpendicular to the sides of the armatures, for example in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 2), this acceleration is also without effect, since the two armatures are urged in the same direction and they are prevented from pivoting in the same direction owing to their interconnection through the medium of the con-. necting member 24.

Thus, a relay or like apparatus incorporating this device would be in most cases non-responsive to blows and vibrations, these movements being mostly limited to rectilinear translations in the same direction or rectilinear translations in opposite directions on the same path to the exclusion of rotations capable of creating torque.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, many modifications or changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electromagnetic device comprising a coil, 21 fixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis; two movable symmetrical armatures which are parallel with and symmetrically disposed relative to said plane, two parallel pivot means orthogonal to said axis of symmetry for pivotably supporting each of said armatures respectively, and mechanical means interconnecting said two armatures at points remote from said pivot means, whereby said armatures can only effect simultaneous movements which are symmetrical relative to said plane.

2. In an electromagnetic device comprising a coil,.a fixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis; two movable symmetrical armatures which are parallel with and symmetrically disposed relative to said plane, two parallel pivot means orthogonal to said axis of symmetry for pivotably supporting each of said armatures respectively and a symmetrical lever pivotable about its axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry of said lever being situated in said plane of symmetry and parallel with the axis of the core, and means mechanically connecting the two ends of said lever respectively to said two armatures in such manner that said armatures can only efiiect simultaneous movements which are symmetrical relative to said plane.

3. In an electromagnetic device comprising a coil, a fixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with .said axis; two movable symmetrical armatures which are parallel with and symmetrically disposed relative to said plane, two parallel pivot means orthogonal to said axis oi: symmetry for pivotably supporting each of said armatures respectively, a symmetrical lever pivotable about its axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry being situated in said plane of symmetry and parallel with the axis of the core, and parallel bars connected at one of their ends to said two armatures respectively and slidably supported at their other end in a member which is fixed relative to said fixed cheeks, each bar being pivoted at a point intermediate its ends by a lug-and-aperture device to one end of said lever, whereby said armatures can only effect simultaneous movements which are symmetrical relative to said plane.

4. In an electromagnetic device comprising a fixed magnetic coil having an axis of symmetry and a magnetic circuit having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis, two symmetrical armatures symmetrically disposed relative to said plane and movable between an operative position toward which they are attracted when the coil is excited, and an inoperative position, mechanical means interconnecting said two armatures in such manner that said armatures can only efiect simultaneous symmetrical movements between said two positions, and resiliently 'yieldable means for urging said armatures toward said inoperative position thereof.

5. In an electromagnetic device comprising a fixed mag netic coil'having an axis of symmetry and a magnetic circuit comprising a fixed core and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis, two symmetrical armatures symmetrically disposed relative to said plane and movable between an operative position toward which they are attracted when the coil is excited, and an inoperative position, mechanical means interconnecting said two armatures in such manner that said armatures can only efiect simultaneous symmetrical movements between said two positions, resiliently yieldable means for urging said armatures toward said inoperative position thereof; electric contact means which are fixed relative to said core and relative to said cheeks, and movable electric contact means adapted to co-operate with said fixed contact means, said movable contact means being operatively connected to said mechanical means.

6. In an electromagnetic device comprising a coil, a fixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said.

axis; two movable symmetrical armatures parallel with and symmetrically disposed relative to said plane, a symmetrical lever pivotable about its axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry of said lever being situated in said plane of symmetry and parallel with the axis of symmetry of the coil, means mechanically connecting the two ends of said lever respectively to said two armatures in such manner that said armatures can only efi'ect simultaneous movements which are symmetrical relative to said plane; electric contact means fixed relative to said core and relative to said cheeks, and movable electric contact means adapted to co-operate with said fixed contact means, said movable contact means being operatively connected to said mechanical means.

7. In an electromagnetic device comprising a coil, a fixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis; two movable armatures parallel with and symetrically disposed relative to said plane, two pivot means 7 orthogonal to said axis of symmetry for pivotably supporting each of said armatures respectively, mechanical means interconnecting said two armatures at points refixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis; two movable armatures parallel with and syrn' metrically disposed relative to said plane, two pivot means orthogonal to said axis of symmetry for pivotably supporting each of said armatures respectively, a symmetrical lever pivotable about its axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry of said lever being situated in said plane of symmetry and parallel with said axis of symmetry of the Core; means mechanically connecting the two ends of said lever respectively to said armatures in such manner that said armatures can only effect simultaneous movements which are symmetrical relative to said plane; electric contact mean-s fixed relative to said core and relative to said cheeks, and movable electric contact means adapted to co-operate with said fixed contact means, said movable contact means being operatively connected to said mechanical means.

9. In an electromagnetic'device comprising a coil, a fixed core having an axis of symmetry, and fixed magnetic cheeks having a plane of symmetry parallel with said axis; two movable symmetrical armatures which are parallel with and symmetrically disposed relative to'said plane, two parallel pivot means orthogonal to said axis of symmetry for pivotably supporting each of said arma- 6 tures respectively, a symmetrical lever pivotable about References Cited in the file of this patent its axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry being situated UNITED STATES PATENTS in said plane of symmetry and parallel with the axis of the core, and parallel bars connected at one of their ends to 1 2 33; g said two armatures respectively and slidably supported at 5 3 6 g 'gg Feb 1929 their other end in a member which is fixed relative to 1974852 Menzel et aL l 1934 said fixed cheeks, each bar being pivoted at a point inter- 2:309:349 McMaster Jan. 1943 mediate its ends by a lug-and-aperture device to one end 5 77 Vaughn July 11, 1944 of said lever, whereby said armatures can only effect si- 10 2 55 ,71 i June 12, 1951 multaneous movements which are symmetrical relative 2 55 ,524 M B et 1 Jun 25 1951 to said plane. 2,632,820 Gauvreau Mar. 23, 1953 

